NIP Group (Ninjas in Pyjamas) has appointed Grant Rousseau as the Chief Operating Officer of its esports division. Rousseau, a two-time Esports World Cup winner, joins from Team Falcons where he served as Global Director of Esports and secured consecutive Esports World Cup victories in 2024 and 2025.
In his new role, Rousseau will lead the growth and oversee the global operations of NIP’s extensive esports division, which includes teams in Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), League of Legends, Apex Legends, Rainbow Six Siege, and several other titles. He will work directly with Co-CEOs Hicham Chahine and Mario Ho.
Following the announcement, Rousseau provided The Esports Radar with further insight into his strategy. He stated that his initial focus will be on esports performance, aiming to return the “storied brand” to its former prominence. According to a press release, Rousseau aims to “take the organization back to the very top.”
Once a powerhouse in CS2, NIP is currently ranked #17 by Valve. While this is sufficient for a Major invite, it falls short of the standout status cultivated throughout the organisation’s 25-year history. This competitive performance has lagged behind the brand’s business side, as the company’s revenue diversification significantly expanded in 2025 through investments in crypto mining, a live entertainment company in China and a plan to open over 100 esports hotels in the country. The organisation also kept commercial momentum, securing a new sponsorship with Rainbet and renewing its partnership with Red Bull.
For the new COO Grant Rousseau, the immediate focus is on rectifying this. “For me, being on top in the short term is really helping to have the teams perform,” he said, clarifying that this means ensuring all parts of the division are functioning effectively.
Also read: Business lessons from 25 years of Ninjas in Pyjamas
He described the existing state of NIP Group as being “in a pretty good place” and indicated his plan involves “small steps, small incremental changes” rather than immediate, sweeping reforms. “You’re not going to see me coming in and making major changes and major things. That’s not the case here. It’s about just gradual improvement to push it back up,” Rousseau explained.
Regarding player signings, Rousseau contrasted his potential strategy at NIP with the aggressive recruitment he led at Team Falcons. He noted, “I don’t think NIP needs to do that,” but affirmed his ultimate goal is to help NIP win, adding that he would take action “if opportunities present themselves.” He concluded that the approach would be situational, stating, “We just have to see what makes sense.”
Rousseau cited the opportunity for personal growth and the company’s stability as key factors in his decision to join. “It is a C-suite role for me in terms of my individual growth,” he said, also noting that he was impressed by the vision of Chahine and Mario Ho. The broader NIP Group’s diversified business and public listing provided “longevity and stability… that isn’t always there in esports,” he added.
As the interview was coming to an end, Rousseau sent fans a message: “I want to bring back such love and passion for the brand. I remember how NIP was just in the eye of esports every single day and it’s all people talked about; I want to see that love and passion back both locally and globally. I hope this can be another new exciting chapter of me joining, and as said, I’m just here to help the teams win and everyone win. That’s what it’s all about, and that should put hopefully some more smiles on the fans faces.”
In the official press release, Chahine welcomed Rousseau, stating, “His achievements speak for themselves. We’re confident Grant will continue to find success with our esports rosters and drive the esports division growth globally.” This is the second change to NIP’s esports division board in the span of a month, as Fabio Fusco has recently been promoted to Director of Partnerships & Sales.
